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Tide opens ‘biggest, baddest' weight room

Strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran gives a tour of the Tide's new facility.

Staff photo | Michelle Lepianka Carter

By Chase GoodbreadSports Writer

Published: Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 11:32 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama football players want for nothing in the school's new $9 million weight room, a 37,000-square-foot facility that couldn't be a better playground for strength coach Scott Cochran.

“It's the biggest, baddest weight room in the country. There is no question about that,” Cochran said with a smile. “Everything is state-of-the-art. Everything we have in here is the best of the best. Not necessarily name brands, we aren't worried about that. What we're worried about is function. Making the players better.”

More than half of the facility's square footage is on the first floor, mostly covered with free weights and rehabilitation equipment. At the center is a line of 20 platforms for squats and other lifts. There is an area designated for warm-ups and an upstairs area with cardio equipment. The weight room is connected to the team's indoor practice facility, and medical staffers have offices in the facility as well. Adjacent to the free weights is a nutrition bar where players have access to fruit, nuts and other healthy foods.

The facility includes plenty of machines for strengthening the neck, a key component of the team's workout program, according to Cochran.

“I have a ton of neck machines. Neck machines are a big deal. We've always worked a lot on the neck,” he said. “A big neck means you don't have to worry (as much) about the scary injuries.”

Cochran said the facility's design allows players to lift weights without having to move from one end of the gym to the other.

“It makes it so the players don't have to run across the gym. It's a very big place, obviously,” Cochran said. “You don't want to have to run across the gym to do a different exercise. Everything is here.”

Flat-screen televisions feature players performing various lifts with ideal form and technique as a visual aid for other players. Meanwhile, a powerful sound system can blare the players' favorite music at eardrum-piercing decibels.

“I'm big on the jock rock. I love that. You never know the day. ... They day (they) feel like not working it, those are the days I crank it so loud they can't even hear me,” Cochran said. “That's one of the little things I asked for that makes a huge impact for the players when they're having one of those days.”

Spring practice notes

Wide receivers Marvin Shinn and Danny Woodson will not participate in spring practice, while the spring statuses of receiver Kevin Norwood and cornerback John Fulton are questionable, coach Nick Saban said.

Woodson has been suspended for a violation of team rules, while Shinn has not been involved in offseason workouts.

“Marvin Shinn has elected not to go through the offseason program, therefore he will not be going through spring practice or part of the team. I'm assuming that he's going to decide to go some place else,” Saban said.

Fulton and Norwood, meanwhile, are dealing with turf-toe injuries that could prevent them from spring participation. Fulton had surgery for his turf toe, which hampered him late last season. Neither has been part of the team's offseason workout program.

Alabama's first spring practice will be March 16, with the annual A-Day scrimmage set for April 20. Pro Day, at which Alabama's outgoing NFL Draft hopefuls perform for pro coaches and scouts on campus, will be March 13.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama football players want for nothing in the school's new $9 million weight room, a 37,000-square-foot facility that couldn't be a better playground for strength coach Scott Cochran.</p><p>“It's the biggest, baddest weight room in the country. There is no question about that,” Cochran said with a smile. “Everything is state-of-the-art. Everything we have in here is the best of the best. Not necessarily name brands, we aren't worried about that. What we're worried about is function. Making the players better.”</p><p>More than half of the facility's square footage is on the first floor, mostly covered with free weights and rehabilitation equipment. At the center is a line of 20 platforms for squats and other lifts. There is an area designated for warm-ups and an upstairs area with cardio equipment. The weight room is connected to the team's indoor practice facility, and medical staffers have offices in the facility as well. Adjacent to the free weights is a nutrition bar where players have access to fruit, nuts and other healthy foods.</p><p>The facility includes plenty of machines for strengthening the neck, a key component of the team's workout program, according to Cochran.</p><p>“I have a ton of neck machines. Neck machines are a big deal. We've always worked a lot on the neck,” he said. “A big neck means you don't have to worry (as much) about the scary injuries.”</p><p>Cochran said the facility's design allows players to lift weights without having to move from one end of the gym to the other.</p><p>“It makes it so the players don't have to run across the gym. It's a very big place, obviously,” Cochran said. “You don't want to have to run across the gym to do a different exercise. Everything is here.”</p><p>Flat-screen televisions feature players performing various lifts with ideal form and technique as a visual aid for other players. Meanwhile, a powerful sound system can blare the players' favorite music at eardrum-piercing decibels.</p><p>“I'm big on the jock rock. I love that. You never know the day. ... They day (they) feel like not working it, those are the days I crank it so loud they can't even hear me,” Cochran said. “That's one of the little things I asked for that makes a huge impact for the players when they're having one of those days.”</p><p><b>Spring practice notes</b></p><p>Wide receivers Marvin Shinn and Danny Woodson will not participate in spring practice, while the spring statuses of receiver Kevin Norwood and cornerback John Fulton are questionable, coach Nick Saban said.</p><p>Woodson has been suspended for a violation of team rules, while Shinn has not been involved in offseason workouts.</p><p>“Marvin Shinn has elected not to go through the offseason program, therefore he will not be going through spring practice or part of the team. I'm assuming that he's going to decide to go some place else,” Saban said.</p><p>Fulton and Norwood, meanwhile, are dealing with turf-toe injuries that could prevent them from spring participation. Fulton had surgery for his turf toe, which hampered him late last season. Neither has been part of the team's offseason workout program.</p><p>Alabama's first spring practice will be March 16, with the annual A-Day scrimmage set for April 20. Pro Day, at which Alabama's outgoing NFL Draft hopefuls perform for pro coaches and scouts on campus, will be March 13.</p><p>Reach Chase Goodbread at chase@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0196.</p>